Refrigerator



March 15, 1938. J. c RE 2,110,917

REFRIGERATOR Filed May 25, 19 5 Sheets-Sheet l J4! J /7 FIIE: E

56 M INVENTOR. James C ear ATTORNEY.

March 15, 1938. .1. c. REAR REFRIGERATOR Filed May 25. 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. James C ear @RQEE W mm m mU I I-HJI P ATTORNEY.

J. C. REAR REFRIGERATOR March 15, 1938.

5 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed May 25. 1935 IN VEN TOR. Jame s C Fear BY ATTORNEY.

March 15, 1938 J, c, REAR I 12,110,917

REFRIGERATOR I 7 Filed May '25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /37 AM /ZJ 1 {LL 1 I I/ w l I /0/ /F4\ 29 W I f /6.5 M13 P 1 W45: 4

FIE '7 INVENTOR. James C ,ear-

ATTORNEY.

J. C; REAR REFRIGERATOR March 15, 1938.

Filed May 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F'IIE E j m iw Q p M 1 M my; l

mi m m Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR Application May 25, 1935, Serial N0. 23,435

2 Claims.

My invention relates to means for enclosing a predetermined space, but with ready access thereto, in order to store articles which should be maintained at lower than normal atmospheric temperatures and at a standard humidity, to-

gether with a refrigerant means, such as ice, for maintaining the desired conditions.

An object of my invention is to provide a refrigerator of large ice and storage capacity, in which the rapidity of. air circulation will be considerably more than customary.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the rate of refrigeration is considerably accelerated over standard practice.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for insuring adequate air circulation within a refrigerator, despite adverse arrangement of. materials stored therein.

A further object of my invention is to provide a refrigerator which is economical in its use of the refrigerant, such as ice.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an air forcing means for a refrigerator, which, although driven by a prime mover, does not add to the heat within the refrigerator.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of. one form of refrigerator in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section the planes of which are indicated by the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 4-'4 of Fig. 3.

. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on a vertical, longitudinal plane, of a display case refrigerator in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a portion of an ice-supporting grid, some of. the structure being shown in transverse cross-section.

Fig, 8 on the left half is a front elevation of a wall box type of refrigerator in accordance with my invention, and on the right half is a crosssection of such refrigerator on a vertical, transverse plane. I

Fig. 9 is a plan of a walk-in refrigerator constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section the plane-of which is indicated by the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

In its preferred form the refrigerator of my 55 invention includes an insulated enclosure which is divided into a storage or food compartment and a refrigerant or ice compartment, in such a way that there is space for free circulation of air within the enclosure and between the two compartments, such circulation of air being augmented by mechanical blowing means having a driver therefor which is thermally insulated from the cooled enclosure. Preferably, the ice compartment is floored by a grid, not only. affording a support for the ice but also providing ample air circulation passages communicating indirectly and directly with the ice and food compartments.

In the form of refrigerator of my invention especially shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is provided a cabinet 6 which issuitably mounted by casters i, for instance, on the floor 8. The cabinet is preferably fabricated to include suitable thermal insulation 9, the exterior surface of which is preferably provided with an outer sheathing II and the interior surface of which is comparably sheathed by an interior lining l2. The structure so formed provides a pair of side walls I3 and M, respectively, a top wall 16, and a floor l1. Likewise,'the cabinet incorporates a backwall I8 and a front wall 19.

The enclosure so formed is preferably divided into a food chamber 2| and a refrigerant chamber 22, by means of a partition 23. The partition is preferably fabricated of wooden beams 24 and 26 which span the interior .of the cabinet from the rear wall 18 to the front wall l9 and support inclined diaphragms 21 and 28 extending from the beams 24 and 26 to points adjacent the center of the cabinet, being spaced apart slightly to leave a passage 29 therebetween. Just above the opening 29, the front and rear walls of the cabinet are spanned by a center beam "3|, which, together with the beams 24 and 26, is for the purpose of bearing the weight of the ice utilized as a refrigerant.

Extending between the beams 24 and 3|, for instance, is a plurality of ice-supporting metal tubes 32, spaced apart to provide air passages 33 therebetween, and at their ends joined and maintained in appropriate relationship by straps 34 and 36 conveniently welded thereto. To each of the tubes 32 is fastened a pair of metal fins 31 and 38, each of which is of generally trapezoidal shape and is secured to its tube to depend therefrom in the general direction of, but spaced from,

the diaphragm 21. The fins are somewhat shorte er than the space between the beams 24 and 3|, to allow ample air passage therebetween, and serve as good conductors of heat between air flowing in the passages 33 and ice blocks 39 carried upon the tubes 32.

Spanning the beam 26 and the beam 3| is a similar ice-supporting means 40 for likewise upholding blocks of ice 4|. The ice blocks are preferably confined in a receptacle defined by upstanding lateral walls 42 and 43 which are spaced from the inner lining I2 of the side walls I3 and I4 in order to provide air passages 44 and 46 therebetween. The upstanding members 42 and 43 preferably are metal and are fastened to the beams 24 and 26 respectively. Included with such members in the receptacle are the inner surfaces of the beams 24 and 26, as well as of the diaphragms 21 and 28, which are covered with metal sheaths 41 and 48, so that water melting from the ice blocks 39 and 4I-falls gravitally over 'the tubes 32 and the fins 31 and 38 of both of the ice-supporting means, and finally drops gravitally onto the metal linings 41 and 48. These are spaced from the lower termini of the fins to afford ample air passageways transversely thereof. The melted ice then flows through the aperture 29 into a drip trough 50 which is inclined down- Wardly toward the rear of the cabinet and connects with a drain 5| piercing the rear wall I0 and connected to Waste.

In order that there may be a forced air fiow over the blocks of ice in the ice chamber 22, I preferably provide, adjacent the end of beam 3| and in registration with a passage 52 defined by the ends of the fins 31 and 38, an inlet aperture 53 piercing the front wall 54 of a duct generally designated 56, defining suitable air passages. Axially aligned with the aperture 53 is a blower 51, preferably of the squirrel cage type, which discharges tangentially into the duct 56. The blower is mounted on a shaft with and is driven by a suitable electric motor 58 mounted on a shelf 59 in the rear wall I8. An insulating plate 6| extends between the motor 58 and the blower 51, so that heat given out by th motor during operation of the fan will not be transferred to the interior of the storage cabinet. The motor 58 is likewise exposed for cooling by passing external air currents.

A forced circulation is therefore effected of air drawn over the outer surfaces of the ice blocks and induced to fiow therebetween and down through the passages and between the ice-supporting tubes 32. Such air continues downwardly along the partition 23 to the central aperture 53, through which it flows for discharge peripherally by the blower 51 into the duct 56. The air advances along a continuation 63 of the duct and discharges at the bottom thereof through an aperture 64 adjacent the front, and through aper tures 66 and 61 adjacent either side of the duct. Air so entering the food chamber 2| is evenly distributed therein by vertically extending bafiles 68 and 69, which extend almost to the underside of the partition 23 but terminate short thereof to provide circulation openings 1| and 12. The baffies 68 and 69 are preferably provided on their facing sides with angular supports, as at 13 and 14, to uphold shelves 16 for receiving material to be refrigerated, whereas on their external surfaces they are provided with brackets 11 and 18 which mate with comparable brackets 19 and BI, respectively, on the interior surfaces of the side Walls I3 and I4, also for the reception of shelves tohold material to be stored. Access to the various subdivisions of the food chamber is had through entrance doors 83 and 84, while access to doors 86. On the front wall of the cabinet adjacent the doors 86 is an electric switch 81 and an indicating light 88, for controlling and showing the operation of the motor 58.

No matter how compactly materials may be arranged within the food chambers of the refrigerator, the blower is effective, when driven, to compel the described flow of cool air from the aperture 53 down through the duct 56 and 63, out through the openings 64, 66, and 61, and into the food chamber, wherein the air currents are distributed uniformly by the baffles 68 and 69. Exhausted and warmed air flows from the food compartments through the openings 1| and 12, and then through the passages 44 and 46, back into the ice compartment, wherein such air, further coming into contact with the ice blocks 39 and 4|, is cooled, properly humidified, and circulated over the ice-supporting and heat transferring means back into the aperture 53.

As shown especially in Figs. 5, 6, and '7, I have incorporated the refrigerator of my invention in a show-case especially for display purposes. This structure includes a cabinet IIlI having a floor I02, a top wall I03, side walls I04 and I06, a front wall I01, and a rear wall I08. These walls are all preferably fabricated of a central core I09 of thermal insulation which is exteriorly sheathed by a covering IIO of metal or compa rable material and an interior sheath I I I of similar construction. Preferably, the front wall I01 is provided with an inclined portion I|2 incorporating a pair of spaced panes of glass H3 and II4 which as so arranged are good thermal insulators but nevertheless permit a view of the interior of the enclosure. An electric light H6, within a mounting shield II1, enhances this feature. Access to the interior of the cabinet is preferably attained by a pair of lower doors H8 and H9 and a pair of upper doors I2I and I22, all cut in the rear wall I08.

Within, the cabinet is divided by a metal partition I23, extending from a point in abutment with the rear wall I08 to a point spaced from the front wall I01 to provide an air passage I24 therebetween, and extending laterally only so fares to afford openings I26 and I21 for the passage of air between the ends of the partition and the side walls I04 and I06 respectively. The space I28 above the partition I23 is designated as a food storage compartment, whereas the space I29 therebelow is for the reception of a refrigerant, such as blocks of ice I3I and I32. The food compartment I28 is provided with food-supporting racks I33 and I34, each of which is pref- 1 erably of an open grid construction to facilitate the passage of air, and each of which is preferably carried on supports I36 and I31, spaced from the side walls I04 and I06 in order to provide air passages therebetween.

The ice compartment I29 includes means for supporting the ice. Spanning the interior of the cabinet between the front wall I01 and the rear wall I08 are beams MI and I42 which are disposed symmetrically on each side of the center of the cabinet, to provide support for inclined metallic drip trays I43, of which there are two, one located on each side of the center line. Superimposed on each of the drip pans I43 are identical grids I44. Each grid includes a plurality of inverted V-shaped metallic channels I 46, which are retained in suitable spaced relationship by means of terminal straps I41 secured to the channels by welding, and at opposite ends turned over to provide footings I 48. The chantherebetween, and, being short, provide at their outer extremities for the passage of air. Thus, air not only can circulate over the blocks of ice I3I and I32, but also can pass between and underneath the channels I46 and through the air passages I49, whereas melted ice can flow over such channels and down the drip pans I43 to a central channel I5I formed by the lining of the floor I02 and the beams I42. A float valve I52, disposed in a sump I53 connected to a drain I54, controls the outflow of excess melted ice to a suitable waste, not shown.

In accordance with my invention I preferably provide means for enforcing a circulation of air throughout the interior of the display cabinet refrigerator, even though the arrangement of materials on the shelves I33 and I34 may be adverse, in order that an acceleration of air flow over natural circulation and standard practice will be obtained, to utilize the refrigerant to the best advantage. For this reason the rear wall I08 is cut away to receive an inset metallic duct I56 which adjacent its upper end is pierced by an inlet aperture I51 leading to a squirrel cage type blower fan I58. The fan rotor is mounted on a shaft I59 of an electric motor I6I secured to a supplementary insulating plate I62 on the rear wall I08. The effect of this arrangement is to preclude motor heat from entering the cooled interior of the cabinet, although insuring a'direct connection to the fan for enforcing a current of Air discharged from the fan I58 flows down through the duct I56 and from thence into a pair ment I28 by the suction of the blower, into the aperture I 51, and is forced by the blower to flow through the duct I56 and thence into the ducts I63 and I64. The air begins to be cooled at this point and discharges through the apertures I65 and I66 in opposite directions to flow slightly upwardly along the grids I44 and under and around the cakes of ice I3I and I32 resting thereon. The cooled and properly humidified air is then discharged through the passages I24, I26, and I21,

being at least partially baffled by the partition I23. Such properly reconditioned airthen rises over the racks I34 and through and over the racks I33, finally returning to the inlet aperture I51 of the blower, thus completing its circuit.

In a further modification of my invention exemplified by the wall box shown especially in Fig. 8, an insulated cabinet I8I is provided with an upper food storage compartment I82 and a lower ice storage, compartment I83. These compartments are partially separated by a partition I84, and access to them is had by doors I86 and I81 respectively. The ice compartment is for the reception of a block of ice I88 resting upon a grid I89 of the previously described type. That is to say, the grid is made up of a plurality of inverted metal channels I9I, so arranged and supported as to provide a plurality of air passages therebetween and thereunder. This grid is supported on.

209 at. the other a'drip pan I92 which in turn rests upon a beam I93 at one end and upon the floor of the cabinet the cabinet between the ice compartment I83 and the food compartment I82, I preferably build in the top wall I96 a. transversely extending duct I91 which at its inlet is provided with an aperture I98 coaxial with a blower fan I99. An electric motor 20I situated on top of the cabinet drives the. blower by a shaft 202 which passes through suitable insulation 203 so that heat from the motor is not transferred to the interior of the cabinet.

Air flowing upwardly in the food compartment I82 passes through the aperture I 98 into the blower I99 and is discharged peripherally thereby into the duct I91. This duct gives onto a vertical duct 204 built into the side wall of the cabinet and adjacent the bottom thereof transferring into an outlet duct 206. At its lower end the duct 206 is turned horizontally to provide an outlet aperture 201 in substantial alignment with the grid I89, so that air discharged from the outlet 201 is induced to flow underneath the block of ice I88 in the spaces between and underneath the members of the grid. The cooled and properly humidified air flows upwardly over the block of ice I88 to the compartment I82, through a passage 208 at one side of the partition I84 and through a passage side thereof, thus completing the cycle at the entrance to the blower fan I99.

In relatively large installations it is preferable that an operator be permitted ingress thereinto, and for such purpose I disclose in Figs. 9 and 10 a so-called walk-in box. This box includes a heavily insulated room 22I bounded by a floor 222, side walls 223 and 224, a rear wall 226, a front wall 221, and a top 228. All of these walls preferably are fabricated to include relatively heavy thermal insulating material. Within the room 22I, to which access'is had through an insulated door 229, are supports 23I for the reception of material to be maintained cool, such as the food products 232.

A pluralityof superposed racks 233 is secured to the front wall 221 and is likewise supported by a nearly complete closure 234 which stops short of the floor 222 to provide an air discharge aperture 236. charged with a block of ice 231, and air is forced to circulate over them by means of a blower 238 situated within the enclosure 234 and receiving air from within the room 22I through an aperture 239. The blower is driven by ashaft 24I extending through the insulation of the front wall 221 and connected to an electric motor 242 mounted on a bracket 243. Heat from the motor, therefore, is not communicated to the interior of the room 22I. Air is induced to flow into the blower 238, is discharged therefrom into the space defined by the closure 234, and passes over the blocks of ice 231 on the racks 233. The cooled air discharges through the opening 236 into the room 221, and finally returns to the aperture 239, thereby completing its cycle.

I claim: k

l. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having an ice chamber therein, means forming a bottom boundary wall of said ice chamber, a plurality of spaced, inverted metallic channels form- The racks 233 are each 10 supporting grid including a number of spaced,

ice-contacting metal walls disposed at an angle to and close to said bottom boundary wall to form a number of lateral air passages extending for substantially the full length of said ice chamber but stopping short of the ends thereof for afiording communication with said ice chamber, and means for forcing a circulation of air through said air passages and said chamber.

JAMES c. REAR. 

